The event received 285,000 pay-per-view buys, an increase on the figure earned by the 2009 No Way Out pay-per-view. Despite the increased number of buys, the event received generally negative reviews, with reviewers criticising the undercard of the show as being "weak" and consisting of "filler" material. The second and third Elimination Chamber events took place on February 21, 2011 and February 19, 2012 with a fourth event planned to take place on February 17, 2013

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Production and concept

In late 2009, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) held a poll on their official website to allow fans to choose a name for their February pay-per-view. The choices included Elimination Chamber, Heavy Metal, Battle Chamber, Chamber of Conflict and No Way Out, which had been the original name. Despite this, the event was still promoted as No Way Out in Germany.

The concept of the show was that each main event match was to be contested as an Elimination Chamber match. The Elimination Chamber is a circular steel cage, consisting of chains and girders, that surrounds the ring. Four 'pods' are enclosed within the chamber, one behind each ring post, which are on a steel platform surrounding the outside of the ring. Six wrestlers compete in the match; four are enclosed within the pods and released at random at specific time intervals, and two start the match. Wrestlers can only be eliminated via pinfall and submission, and the last wrestler left is the winner. For the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, both of WWE world championships, the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship, were to be defended in separate Elimination Chamber matches.

Just prior to the commencement of the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match, The Undertaker was involved in a pyrotechnics accident during his ring entrance. He was temporarily engulfed in flames when the pyrotechnics were mistimed, and his jacket caught on fire. It was later reported that he'd suffered first- and second-degree burns to his neck and chest, and according to a WWE spokesperson the injury "looked like a bad sunburn". He was only allowed to participate in the match after being cleared by a ringside doctor and was given bottles of water throughout the match to douse himself with to attempt to alleviate the discomfort.

Background

Elimination Chamber will feature matches involving different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines that will be played out on RAW, SmackDown, ECW and WWE SuperstarsWorld Wrestling Entertainment's television programs. Wrestlers will portray a villain or a hero as they follow a series of events that build tension, and culminate into a wrestling match or series of matches. Currently, wrestlers confirmed for the event will be from WWE's Raw and SmackDown brands a storyline division in which WWE employees are assigned to a television program of the same name.

In December 2009, Divas ChampionMelina tore her anterior cruciate ligament, and was forced to vacate her title. At the start of the year, there has been a single-elimination tournament held to determine a new champion. In the opening round, Maryse, Eve Torres, Gail Kim, and Alicia Fox all advanced to face each other in the semifinals, which saw Maryse defeat Torres and Kim defeat Fox. It was then announced on the February 8 edition of Raw that Maryse and Kim would face one another at Elimination Chamber.

On the February 12 edition of Smackdown!, the Intercontinental ChampionDrew McIntyre faced Kane in a non-title match. After the match went to a double-countout, Kane chokeslammed McIntyre. It was announced the following day on WWE.com that Kane and McIntyre would meet at Elimination Chamber for the Intercontinental Championship.